Retractable snorkel nozzle



April 4, 1967 D. J. REISINGER RETRACTABLE SNORKEL NOZZLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed D80. 2, 1964 TO VACUUM April 4, 1967 FiledDec. 2, 1964 RETRACTABLE SNORKEL NOZZLE D. J. REISINGER 3,312,256

2 Sheets-Sheet 3 TO VACUUM United States Fatent C) 3,312,256 RETRACTABLE SNORKEL NOZZLE Delwin J. Reisinger, Greenville, S.C., assignor to W. R.

Grace 8; Co., Duncan, 5.6., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Dec. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 415,379 6 Claims. (Cl. 141-65) This invention relates to an improved device for removing air from a package. In another aspect, the invention relates to an improved vacuum packaging device. In another aspect, the invention relates to the vacuum packaging of poultry or the like in heat shrinkable film. In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a combined vacuum packaging and lifting device with the package being vacuumized and then automatically lifted off the supporting surface so as to permit twisting of the neck on the package prior to clipping or otherwise sealing.

It is known practice for processors of turkeys, chickens, and poultry products to individually vacuum pack each bird in a collapsible air tight bag which may be made of any suitable thermoplastic such as biaxially oriented irradiated polyethylene. For simplicity, the invention will be described with reference to the packaging of poultry or the like; however, the invention is broadly applicable to the removal of air from any collapsible material in which a product may be placed.

A process has heretofore been proposed wherein a nozzle (in communication with a means for creating a vacuum) is inserted into the package to be vacuumized. After a sufficient period of time to remove substantially all the air from the package, the package is twisted so as to prevent entrance of air into the evacuated package and the twisted neck is then sealed by means such as clips or heat sealing. In one packaging method the bird is first placed in each bag in a substantially vertical position and disposed immediately below a fixed vertical nozzle. While the operator holds the bag mouth over the nozzle, the air is exhausted within the interior of the bag.

In US. Patent No. 2,681,757, issued to Robert Kellersman, an improved mechanism is provided so that it is unnecessary for the operator to lift the bird and the bag off the table in order to engage the mouth of the bag over the nozzle. The patent illustrates a vacuum actuated lifting mechanism supported above a packing table and carrying an associated vacuum nozzle assembly. Valve means associated with the nozzle are provided to open and close communication between a vacuum source and the interior of said nozzle and said vacuumizing mechanism. The arrangement is such that when a vacuum condition is established within the mechanism, the latter will operate to raise the nozzle, and consequently the bird and bag, upwardly a sufficient distance above the table to permit the operator to twist the bag after a vacuum has been obtained in the bag. The bag is then removed from the nozzle and sealed. After the package has been vacuumized and sealed, it is subjected to a heat shrinking operation so that the bag shrinks to form a skin tight package about the bird.

One disadvantage that has arisen from the operation of this type of mechanism is the difficulty in removing air trapped in the interior of the bird so that after sealing of the bag, the air gradually escapes from the interior of the bird and produces unsightly pockets of trapped air.

Another disadvantage is that the lifting mechanism begins to operate immediately upon the application of a vacuum, thereby increasing the difficulty in obtaining a complete vacuum. Another disadvantage is that upon withdrawal of the nozzle from the package liquids removed from the package up into the nozzle tend to leak back 3,312,256 Patented Apr. 4, 1967 onto the package or operators hand when the vacuum is discontinued.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel apparatus for vacuum packaging.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a dripproof nozzle for a vacuum packaging device.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for the delayed lifting of a package being vacuumized.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus for automatically returning a lifting device to its original position.

These and other objects of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure, appended claims and drawings.

A device has now been found which will more effectively evacuate the bag and bird by means of a nozzle associated with a vacuum source, said nozzle being initially inserted into the cavity of the bird and then gradually withdrawn into the upper portion of the bag to complete the vacuumizing operation.

In one embodiment the bag and bird are lifted from the support table only after the evacuation is substantially complete. In another preferred feature the device is automatically lowered after the bag is twisted.

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view showing the lifting mechanism and vacuum nozzle assembly with the package off the table and twisted.

In the drawings, FIGURE 2 is an enlarged partial vertical section of the nozzle assembly and lifting mechanism.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of th upper portion of the vacuum nozzle assembly indicating the relationship of the sleeve and nozzle at rest.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical section of the upper portion of the tubing, sleeve, and valve actuating mechanism in position for lifting the assembly.

FIGURE 5 is a small raised section view of the poppet type relief valve which permits the lifting mechanism to return the entire assembly to the lowered position.

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view of the drip-proof nozzle.

The invention is best described with reference to the drawings.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 an embodiment is shown comprising a packing table surface 2, a support assembly 4, a conduit 6 in communication with the vacuum nozzle assembly 12 and a means for withdrawing air therefrom (not shown), and a vacuum actuated lifting mechanism 8.

In operation, the operator places a bird 14 (such as a turkey or chicken, whole and dressed) on the table 2, inserts the bird into a heat shrinkable plastic bag 16 in such a manner the nozzle 13 can be inserted into the cavity of the bird 14. With the end resting on the table 2, the operator gathers the opened end of the bag 16 around the lower portion of the nozzle assembly 12. The operator then grips the film tightly about handle 26 and inserts the nozzle end 13 of the assembly into the cavity of the bird 14. A vacuum is drawn through conduit 6 and the nozzle assembly 12 as hereinafter described with the lifting mechanism 8 subsequently being actuated to lift the bird off the table and simultaneously withdraw the nozzle 13 from the cavity into the upper portion of the bag while continuing to draw a vacuum. The operator permits the bag to drop slightly while simultaneously twisting the neck of the bag to close the vacuumized bag. The bag is then removed from the lower portion of the nozzle assembly and a clip or other fastening means is applied to the twisted neck to retain the vacuum.

The nozzle assembly 12 may be connected to any suitable lifting mechahism 8 for lifting the entire assembly including the bird and bag from the table surface. A

preferred vacuum actuated lifted mechanism is described in U.S. Patent No. 2,681,757 incorporated herein by reference.

The lifting mechanism 8 is fixedly secured at a constant position about the table 2 such as by an elongated support assembly 4.

FIGURE 2 represents a vertical partial cross-section of the combined lifting mechanism 8 and nozzle assembly 12. The lifting mechanism 8 comprises a cylindrical chamber 38 having a reciprocably mounted piston 40 in the upper portion thereof. Said piston 411 is fixedly secured to shaft 41 which is suitably mounted to the sup port assembly so that when a vacuum is drawn on the lower portion of the chamber 38, the chamber 38 will tend to move upwardly thereby lifting the depending mechanism and product. Attached to the lower portion of the lift mechanism 8, such as by threads 17 or the like, is a nozzle assembly 12. The upper portion of the nozzle assembly 12 consists of a vacuum chamber 10, which is preferably a cylindrical chamber, in communication through conduit 6 with a vacuum source (not shown). The lower portion of the vacuum chamber 11} is sealed such as by a retaining member 11 threadably mounted such as by threads 15. The central portion of member 11 contains an aperture which is provided with a gasket 19. Extending through this aperture in member 11 is an elongated sleeve 23. Attached to this lower extremity of this sleeve is a handle 26. Slidably positioned interiorly of said sleeve 23 is an elongated tubing 18 extending from the upper portion of the vacuum chamber and having attached to the lower portion thereof a nozzle 13. This nozzle 13 may be an integral portion of the tubing 18 or removably attached thereto such as by threads 28 as shown in FIGURE 6. Apertures 62 are located in the lower extremity of the nozzle 13 and are in communication with the vacuum source through nozzle 13, tubing 18, vacuum chamber 111 and conduit 6 to a vacuum source. A heavy duty helical spring 52 surrounding sleeve 23 is positioned in vacuum chamber 11). This spring is biased against retaining member 58 and member 11 as hereinafter described.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross-section of the upper portion of the vacuum nozzle assembly 12. As can be seen from this view, the upper end of the sleeve 23 1s sealably engaged by means of O-ring 24 against a mounting block 25 which is pinned by pin 27 to the chamber 10 which is, in turn, thread-ably mounted in the lower portion of cylinder 38. The operator, after placing the bird in the bag and gripping the bag about the handle 26, pulls downwardly on said handle thus moving sleeve 23 downwardly and breaking the seal at O-ring 24. A retaining ring 50 is fixedly secured to the upper portion of sleeve 23 and may be of any suitable shape which will permit passage of air around it. The spring 52 is biased against member 58 and member 11, thereby resisting the pull of the operator and urging the sleeve upwardly when the operator subsequently releases his grip. Tubing 18 is interiorly positioned of sleeve 23 and contains an opening or slot 22. This tubing 18 is fixedly secured to mounting block 25 so that when sleeve 23 is moved downwardly breaking the seal at O-ring 24, there is an open path between the vacuum source and the bag through the conduit 6, chamber 111, slot 22, tubing 18, nozzle 13 and to bag 16. The movement of handle 2s downward causes a relative movement of nozzle 13 upwardly out of the cavity of the bird.

In the upper portion of the tubing 18 there is provided a valve assembly which cooperates with the lifting mechanism S and handle 26 to move the entire lift and nozzle assembly upwardly along with the bag and bird when the handle 26 has been moved downwardly to a predetermined position. An orifice 37 is provided in the lower portion of chamber 38 which is communicatable with the interior of the vacuum chamber 10. A valve 38 sealably engages orifice 37 by means of O-ring 28. This valve head 30 is urged upwardly by spring 32 biased against a shoulder 31. Connected with the lower portion of valve 30 is an elongated member 34 having a projection 36 on its lower extremity. An actuating means 33 is connected to the upper portion of sleeve 23 by a pin 33A and protrudes through slot 22 to slide on member 34. This actuating mechanism may consist of any suitable projection on the interior wall of sleeve 23. When sleeve 23 is moved downwardly thus evacuating the bird, the actuating mechanism 33 will move downwardly until it strikes projection 36 on the end of member 34.

At this point, the bird and bag have been essentially completely evacuated so that the operator is ready to move the bag upward and twist this neck to seal the bag. A slight additional tug on handle 26 results in actuating member 33 moving projection 36 downwardly until it strikes a stop pin 35. This movement is best illustrated in FIGURE 4. Movement of projection 36 and consequently rod 34 causes valve head 39 to move downwardly thus opening passage 37 and creating a vacuum inside of chamber 38. As hereinbefore described, this results in a relative upward movement of the nozzle assembly and bird.

Upon completion of the steps of evacuating the bag, lifting the assembly off the table and twisting the neck of the bag, the operator removes the evacuated package and releases his grip on handle 26. This permits sleeve 23 to move upwardly due to the urging of spring 52. When the retaining member 58 reaches the upper extremity of its travel, its upper surface strikes an elongated pin 44 moving it upwardly. This pin is connected to a poppet valve 42. As shown in FIGURE 5, poppet valve 42 closes off orifice 48 and passageway 46 which is in communication With the interior of chamber 38 during the evacuation and lifting steps. During the lifting and vacuumizing, poppet valve 42 is urged downwardly by spring 54 biased against retainer 56 suitably held in place. When the spring retaining means 50 moves the poppet valve assembly upwardly this permits communication between the atmosphere and the interior of chamber 38 thereby breaking the vacuum in chamber 38 and lowering the entire assembly. The operator is then ready for another complete cycle.

An additional feature of the invention is shown in FIGURE 6 which is an enlarged vertical section of nozzle 13. Apertures 62 are in communication with the interior of tubing 18 through passageway 59. Heretofore, one of the problems with evacuating fowl has been that the evacuation results in moisture in the interior of tubing 18 during the vacuumizing step, but when the vacuum is released this moisture drips down on the bag and operators hands. By this feature, a ball-bearing 58 is seated against the upper portion ofpassageway 59 during the time when the vacuum is not being drawn. During the vacuumizing step, ball-bearing 58 is moved upwardly by the vacuum until it strikes pin stop 68.

Since most operators tend to twist the bag clockwise, it is preferable that left-hand threads be employed so that the device tightens with the operators movements.

The invention is described primarily with reference to the employment of a heat shrinkable polyethylene film such as described in the Us. patent to Baird, US. Patent No. 3,022,543 and Rainer et al., US. Patent No. 2,877,- 500, incorporated herein by reference. However, the invention is not dependent on the type of bag or film employed. Preferably, the bag is formed from a thermoplastic, biaxially oriented film made from materials such as polyolefins, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, polyvinyls, such as polyvinyl chloride and polyvinylidene chloride (Saran) and polyamides such as nylon and the like.

The term polymer as employed herein includes homopolymers, copolymers, terpolymers, block copolymers, laminates of films and the like.

While certain examples, structures, composition and process steps have been described for purposes of illustration, the invention is not so limited. Variation and modification within the scope of the disclosure and the claims can readily be elfected by those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. Vacuum packaging equipment comprising:

(a) a means for reducing pressure to less than atmospheric,

(b) a vacuum chamber in communication with (a),

(c) the upper end of said chamber fixedly secured to the lower portion of a lifting mechanism,

((1) an elongated conduit fixedly secured to the lower portion of said lifting mechanism and positioned interiorly of said chamber,

(c) said conduit sealably extending downwardly through the lower portion of said chamber and having an aperture in the upper portion in communication with the interior of said chamber,

(f) said conduit terminating in a nozzle exteriorly of said chamber and comm-unicatable with the interior of an object to be vacuumized,

(g) an elongated sleeve slidably circumenveloping the upper portion of said conduit and sealably engaging the lower portion of said lifting mechanism, said sleeve continuing to circumenvelop said conduit exteriorly of said chamber but terminating short of said nozzle,

(b) means for removably positioning the upper portion of an object to be vacuumized about the lower portion of said sleeve so that said nozzle extends into the central portion of said object,

(i) and means for moving said sleeve, and thus the upper portion of said object, downwardly thus disengaging the upper end of said sleeve and establishing communication between said vacuum chamber and said nozzle, the lowering of said sleeve thus causing the relative retraction of the nozzle from the central portion to the upper portion of the object being vacuumized.

2. Vacuum packaging equipment comprising:

(a) atable surface,

(b) means for creating a pressure less than atmospheric,

(c) a lifting mechanism fixedly positioned above said table surface and vertically reciprocable,

(d) a vacuum chamber in communication with (c), the upper portion of said chamber being fixedly secured to the lower portion of said lifting mechanism,

(e) an elongated conduit fixedly secured to the lower portion of said lifting mechanism and positioned interiorly of said chamber, said conduit sealably extending downwardly through the lower portion of said chamber,

(f) an aperture in the upper portion of conduit communicatable with said chamber,

(g) said conduit terminating in a nozzle exteriorly of said chamber, said nozzle being communicatable with the interior of an object to be vacuumized,

(h) an elongated sleeve slidably circumenveloping the upper portion of said conduit and sealably engaging the lower portion of said lifting mechanism when said sleeve is at its upper stroke position,

(i) means for removably positioning the upper portion of an object to be vacuumized about the lower portion of said sleeve so that said nozzle extends into the central portion of said object,

(j) means for moving said sleeve, and thus the upper 7 portion of said object, downwardly thus disengaging the upper end of said sleeve and establishing communication between said vacuum chamber and said nozzle, the lowering of said sleeve thus causing the relative retraction of the nozzle from the central portion to the upper portion of the object being vacuumized,

(k) at least a portion of said lifting mechanism being actuated upwardly when in communication with (c), said vacuum chamber, conduit and nozzle movable correspondingly therewith upwardly and downwardly with respect to said table surface and,

(1) means for establishing communication between said lifting mechanism and (0) when said sleeve approaches the lower terminus of its downward movement.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said lifting mechanism comprises a vacuum actuated cylinder and piston assembly, said cylinder communicatable with (c), said piston supported in a relatively fixed position above said table surface, said cylinder mounted about said piston and adapted for upward movement with respect to said piston and table surface upon a vacuum condition being created in said cylinder, said vacuum chamber, nozzle and conduit attached to and depending from said cylinder and movable correspondingly therewith.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein (1) comprises:

(m) an orifice in the upper extremity of said conduit in communication with the interior of said lifting mechanism and the interior of said vacuum chamber through the aperture in the upper portion of said conduit,

(11) a valve means cooperating with an urging means so that said valve means normally closes said orifice, and

(0) an actuating means on said sleeve adapted to move said valve means downwardly thus creating a vacuum in said lifting mechanism when said sleeve attains the lower terminus of its downward movement.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said lifting mechanism and dependent chamber, conduit and nozzle are lowered to their original position by means comprising:

(p) a retaining means fixedly attached to the upper portion of said sleeve interiorly of said chamber,

(q) urging means cooperating with said retaining means biased on the lower portion of said chamber thus moving said sleeve upwardly upon release of downward pressure on the lower terminus of said sleeve,

(r) an orifice in the upper portion of said chamber,

(s) a passageway in communication with said orifice and the interior of said lifting mechanism,

(t) a second valve means positioned in said passageway, and

(u) said retaining means cooperating with said valve means so as to open said passageway and thus establish communication between the interior of said lifting mechanism and atmospheric pressure so as to lower said lifting mechanism.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said nozzle comprises:

,(v) at least one aperture in nozzle, and

(w) a third valve means positioned interiorly of said nozzle adapted to rise within said nozzle upon the application of a vacuum to the interior of said conduit but dropping to seat in said nozzle when the vacuum in said conduit is discontinued so as to prevent the leakage of accumulated liquids from said nozzle.

the lower portion of said References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1962 Belknap 53112 3/1965 Belknap 141-8 

1. VACUUM PACKAGING EQUIPMENT COMPRISING: (A) A MEANS FOR REDUCING PRESSURE TO LESS THAN ATMOSPHERIC, (B) A VACUUM CHAMBER IN COMMUNICATION WITH (A), (C) THE UPPER END OF SAID CHAMBER FIXEDLY SECURED TO THE LOWER PORTION OF A LIFTING MECHANISM, (D) AN ELONGATED CONDUIT FIXEDLY SECURED TO THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID LIFTING MECHANISM AND POSITIONED INTERIORLY OF SAID CHAMBER, (E) SAID CONDUIT SEALABLY EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THROUGH THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID CHAMBER AND HAVING AN APERTURE IN THE UPPER PORTION IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID CHAMBER, (F) SAID CONDUIT TERMINATING IN A NOZZLE EXTERIORLY OF SAID CHAMBER AND COMMUNICATABLE WITH THE INTERIOR OF AN OBJECT TO BE VACUUMIZED, (G) AN ELONGATED SLEEVE SLIDABLY CIRCUMENVELOPING THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID CONDUIT AND SEALABLY ENGAGING THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID LIFTING MECHANISM, SAID SLEEVE CONTINUING TO CIRCUMENVELOP SAID CONDUIT EXTERIORLY OF SAID CHAMBER BUT TERMINATING SHORT OF SAID NOZZLE, (H) MEANS FOR REMOVABLY POSITIONING THE UPPER PORTION OF AN OBJECT TO BE VACUUMIZED ABOUT THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID SLEEVE SO THAT SAID NOZZLE EXTENDS INTO THE CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID OBJECT, (I) AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID SLEEVE, AND THUS THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID OBJECT, DOWNWARDLY THUS DISENGAGING THE UPPER END OF SAID SLEEVE AND ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID VACUUM CHAMBER AND SAID NOZZLE, THE LOWERING OF SAID SLEEVE THUS CAUSING THE RELATIVE RETRACTION OF THE NOZZLE FROM THE CENTRAL PORTION TO THE UPPER PORTION OF THE OBJECT BEING VACUUMIZED. 